Tunneling-machine



(No Model.) -v v M. ROTHSCHILD.

TUNNELING MACHINE.

Patented 001;. 3o, 1883,.

N. PETERS. Phowumugmpmr. wadngkm, uc.

UNITED "STATES/'PATENT OFFICE.

MAIER RTHscHILD, or sHAMoKIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

TUNNEITING-MACHINE.

SFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 287,728, dated October 30, 1883. .Y .Application filed January 11, 18783. (No model.) i

To a/ZZ w'wm/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAIER ROTHSCHILD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Shaj mokin, in the county of Northumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tunneling-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

.This invention relates toa tunneling-machine which consists of a carriage, an open frame extending from saidv carriage, a number of diamond cutters mounted on said frame, and placed in :such relation to each other that a solid piece of rock is cut out as the carriage advances. i Y

'Ihe peculiar construction of my machine and the relation .of the several working parts toward each other are pointed out in the follow-V ing specification and lillustrated in the acA companying drawings, in Which- Figure l represents a front view of the machine, showing the various diamond cutters and their relative position toward each other; Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical section in the plane x, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section in the plane y y, Fig. 2.` l

Similar letters indicate correspondingparts. In the drawings, the letter A designates a carriage, the body of which is constructed of strong timbers, and which is supported by four or more wheels, so that it can be moved forward or backward either on the bare ground or on a suitable track. From the frontportion of this carriage extend, in a horizontal direction,four bars, B,' and the outer ends of these bars form thebearings for axles a, Fig. 2, on which are mounted the diamond cutters C in such a position in relation to each other (see Fig. l) that the same, when brought to act upon a rock, will cut out a prismatical block withasquare cross-section. (See Fig. 3.) As the carriage advances, this prismat-ical block enters between the bars B, and when the carriage is drawn back it carries the prismatical block. withit, and a clear cavity is left in the rock.

. In order to make room for the bars B, so that they can enter the rock, additional cutters, D, are applied, one to each of the bars B. These cutters are firmly mounted on tubular shafts E, which have their bearings inboxes b, secured to the bars B, and these cutters are provided the tubular shafts E. The openings or cavities D l merge into the openings produced by the cutters C, so as to allow the bars B to advance without obstruction. On the inner end of each of these tubular shafts E is mounted a bevel-wheel, f, Fig. l,wl1ich gears into abevel-wheel, g, mounted on the outer end of a shaft, h, which has its bearing in the frame or body of the carriage A. On the inner ends of the shafts h are mounted bevel-wh eels i, which mesh into each other, so that by imparting motion to one of them the required motionY is transmitted to all the cutters C and D.

An open frame, L, may be secured between the bars B, so as to keep the same steady, said framebeing situated closebehind thecutters C. In the body of the carriage are rmly secured -two steam-cylinders, F, (one only being shown in the drawings,) the piston of each of which connects with a crank, G, firmly secured to one pair vof the bevel-wheels fi, the two cranks being situated at a suitable angle toward each other, so thatadead-center is avoided. Steam is admitted to the cylinders bya'ilexible pipe,

H,from a steam-generator situated outside of the tunnel and not shown in the drawings.

Oneof the bevel-wheels is geared with ascrew-spindle, I,which passes into a stationary nut; J, so that by revolving said screw-spindlethe carriage A is slowly advanced against the rock to be acted upon. rIhe nut J is provided with four hinged braces, K, which can be brought to bear upoi the sides of the tunnel,

so as to retain the nut firmly in position,while the carriage is causedto advance. At the beginning of the operation the carriage A may be advanced by any suitable means until the tunnel has been cut out to such a depth that the braces -K of the nut J will obtain the required hold.' l y ICO Vith the steamcylinder F may be combined a pump,for the purpose of throwing Water upon the cutters whenever such may be requisite.

In the drawings my machine is represented in a horizontal position; but it will be readily seen that said machine can be used in a Vertical position for sinking shafts, and in that case a balance-Weight must be applied to counterbalance partially or fully the weight of the machine.

A tunneling-machine has heretofore been composed of a wheeled carriage, on which is built a vertical framework,carrying horizontal and vertical shafts, to the ends of which are secured disks for cutting at the top, bottom, and sides simultaneously, and such, therefore, I do not claim.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, substantially as herein described, ofthe carriage A, the bars B, projecting from the front of the carriage, the cutters @,mounted on the ends of the bars at right angles toward cach other, the additional cutters arranged to operate in advance of the bars to form channels for the passage of the same,

` and means for advancing the carriage and operating all the cutters.

2. The combination, substantially as described, of the carriage A, the bars B,project ing from the front of the carriage, the cutters C, mounted on the ends of the bars, the additional cutters mounted on shaft running parallel to the bars B, arranged to operate in ad- Vance of the bars to form channels for the passage of thc same, and means for advancing the carriage and operatingr all the cutters.

3. The combination, substantially as herein described, of the carriage A, the bars B, projecting from the front of the carriage, the cutters C, mounted on the ends of the bars at right angles toward each other, the additional cutters mounted on shaft running parallel to the bars B, arranged to operate in advance of the bars to form channels for the passage of the same, and means for advancing the carriage and operating all the cutters.

4f.` The combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of the carriage A, the bars B, extending from said carriage, the cutters C, mounted on the inner sides ofthe bars, the tubular shafts E, mounted on the outside of said bars, the cutters D, mounted on the tubular vshafts E, and geared together with the cutters C, and mechanism for imparting a revolving motion to the tubular shafts for advancing the carriage.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of the carriage A, the bars B, extending from said carriage, the disks C, carried by said bars, the shafts E, mounted on said bars, the cutters D, mounted on the shafts E, and geared with the cutters C by an open gearing, the steam-cylinder (one or more) mounted in the carriage A, the screw-spindle I, and the bevel-wheels f g, which transmit motion from the steam-cylinder to the shafts E, and to the screw-spindle I.

In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MAIER ROTHSCHILD. [L S.]

Vitnesses:

XV. HAUFF, E. F. KAs'rnNiIUBER. 

